5 Health Indicators that you should not ignore

Can your pets tell you when something is wrong? I believe they can if we watch out for the indicators. Most pet owners will notice if something is different, it is that time your instincts tell you something is not quite right.

It is these times you can not ignore these signs as your dog could be suffering with a serious medical condition.

However, that said it may be a sign that something is wrong with your dog.
Excessive drooling may indicate issues like dental disease such as periodontitis or a tooth abscess — or it could be that your pet has eaten something that has irritated mouth or gums, or worst-case scenario is suffering from a neurological problem or head trauma.

Consumption of Water

Your dog needs to consume water every day, we should not worry too much because outdoors on a warm day they are going to drink more than usual.

However, if your dog is not a big drinker and suddenly you see them return again and again to the water bowl over a short period of time, then this is not normal. This excessive drinking could be an early indicator of kidney failure, Cushing’s disease, diabetes, or pyometra in female dogs.

If your dog is on medication be aware and ask your Vet to verify it for you as they may cause an increase in water consumption.

Excessive Panting

All dogs pant it is normal, more so after a good walk, play in the garden or after time outdoors on a warm day. Panting is the dog’s natural way to cool down its core body temperature.

Heavy panting is different though and usually sounds deeper with laboured breathing and resulting in the dog maybe collapsing unable to move.

Heavy panting among other things could mean your dog is in pain, suffering from heatstroke, poisoning or heart failure.

Change in Behaviour

You all know your dogs and notice if they are acting differently. Many of these changes in behaviour can be explained but when it comes to more serious changes such as unprovoked aggression, moodiness, erratic temperament, hyperactivity, fearfulness, anxiety, submissiveness, sudden onset of seizures, inactivity or lack of appetite you cannot ignore these indicators.

Sudden behavioural changes can be linked to thyroid dysfunction such as hyperthyroidism and other medical conditions such as pancreatitis, cancer, arthritis, parasites, skin allergies, heart disease or a physical injury.

Change in their Smell

Healthy pets don’t smell, yes, they have a distinctive dog smell but that normal. But if your pet has started to smell different i.e. bad breath, stinky ears and skin and smelly gas then this could be an indicator there could be a problem.

Bad breath is normally a sign of dental disease, oral melanoma, and diabetes or kidney failure. With smelly ears it is usually a sign of an ear infection. Stinky skin, itchy, flaking skin can be an indicator of allergies or bacterial infections. All animals can have flatulence but a change in the intensity of the smell can be the signs of gastrointestinal diseases.

Summary

These are just five of the most common indictors that there is something is not quite right, if your dog shows any of these signs don’t hesitate, either ask you Vet for advice or take your dog to the for an examination.